Richard Wilson

The Thames near Marble Hill, Twickenham

c.1762

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

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On loan

Musée du Luxembourg (Paris, France): Gainsborough to Turner: The Golden Age of English Painting

Artist
Richard Wilson 1713–1782
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 464 × 730 mm
frame: 655 × 940 × 85 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1937
Reference
N04874

Display caption

This tranquil view shows a stretch of the Thames seen from the south bank of the river upstream from Richmond. The gable of the Palladian-style villa, Marble Hill House, can be seen peeping through the trees on the right. Wilson’s view is selective: he leaves out the busy river traffic and neighbouring houses.

The fine scenery around Twickenham was an inspiration to artists and poets during the eighteenth century: Alexander Pope and later Joshua Reynolds were amongst those who lived in the area. With its echoes of his beloved Italy, it proved a popular subject for Wilson, who painted several versions of this view.

Gallery label, August 2004

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